🍂 October in the #QGrow Garden

As the days shorten and the air turns crisp, October is a month of both beginnings and endings in the garden. While we’re clearing away the last of summer’s growth, it’s also the perfect time to plant seeds that will carry us into spring.

🌱 What We’re Planting

Broad Beans

• Variety: Choose hardy types like Aquadulce Claudia.

• How: Sow seeds directly into prepared soil, 5cm deep and 20cm apart, in double rows with 20–25cm between them.

• Why: Broad beans overwinter well and reward us with one of the earliest harvests in late spring. They also improve soil by fixing nitrogen.

Spinach

• Variety: Look for winter-hardy types such as Perpetual or Winter Giant.

• How: Sow thinly into drills 1.5cm deep and 30cm apart. Thin seedlings to 7–10cm apart once they’re established.

• Why: A cut-and-come-again crop that provides nutritious leaves through autumn and early winter, bouncing back in spring.

And because we love to make the most of what we grow, don’t forget to check out our Broad Bean & Pea Risotto recipe - a delicious way to enjoy the fruits of our efforts.

🥕 Other October Garden Jobs

• Harvesting – The last of the pumpkins, beans and salad leaves are ready now. Keep picking to encourage the final flush before frost. We’re waiting with baited breath on our sweetcorn!

• Dahlias – Ours have only just started flowering, so we’ll keep deadheading to prolong the display. Once the first frosts arrive, lift and store tubers somewhere dry and frost-free.

• Clearing & Composting – Remove spent crops and add them to the compost heap, chopping stems to speed decomposition.

• Mulching & Soil Care – Spread compost, manure or leaf mould to protect soil structure over winter.

• Winter Prep – Clean and store tools, wash seed trays and pots, and check stakes and supports.

• Wildlife-Friendly Jobs

  • Leave seed heads (sunflowers, teasels) for birds to enjoy.

  • Build or refresh log piles for hedgehogs, frogs and insects.

  • Keep bird feeders topped up and ensure fresh water is available.

🌍 Why October Matters

October is about balance — tidying the year’s growth while sowing seeds of hope for the seasons ahead. By planting broad beans and spinach now, preparing the soil, and caring for wildlife, we set the stage for a thriving, sustainable allotment in 2026.

👉 Share your autumn jobs with us on social media using #QGrow – and let’s keep growing together through the seasons.